Electrical device for operating the keys of type-writers, &amp;c.



PATENTED MAY 31, 1904.

J. PILSA'I'NEEKS. ELECTRICAL DEVICE FOR OPERATING THE KEYS OF TYPE WRITERS, 6m.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1903.

NO MODEL.

FIGQ.

Eatented. May 31, 1904.

PAT T ()FFICE."

JAcoB PrLs'ATNEnKs, or R c Russia.

' ELECTRICAL DEVICE-FOR OPERATING THE KEYS F TYPE-WRITERS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No..761,179, dated May 31 1904.

Application filed J une 17, 1903. Serial No. 161,824. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB PILSATNEEKS, a sub ect of the Emperor of Russia, residing at 9 Gros'se Newastrasse, Q11. 30, Riga,'in the Empire of Russia, have invented'new and useful Improvements in Electrical Devicesfor Operating the Keys of Type-Writers, Type- Printing Telegraph Apparatus, and the Like, of'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to, electrical devices foroperating the keys of typewriters, typeprinting telegraph apparatus, and the like from a distance from the type-writer or like apparatus.

The use of the customary type-writing machines, including 'the electrical type-writers and those which are provided with electrical operating devices, is inconvenient, inasmuch as the operator must be in immediate proximity to the machine. The principal place on his table is taken up by'the machine itself, and simultaneous reference to books or papers is thus made very difficult.

My said invention is designed to obviate these drawbacks by enabling the operator to work the type-writing machine at a distance and in any position or attitudethat is to say, either sitting, lying, standing, or moving about. This-is accomplished by the employment of an electrical device so arranged that the closing of the different circuits for depressing the keys of the type-writing machine is eifected on a small handy board adapted to be moved freely from place to place at the will of the operator and connected with the device by conductors, which may form a flexible cable. In cases where the noise of the type-writing machine is troublesome said machine may be placed in another room from the operator. v

Instead of single-pole electromagnets, which are provided in known electrical devices for depressing the keys and use a comparatively large amount of current, I employ solenoids the movable cores of which bear directly upon the keys of the keyboard of the typewriting machine, so that the usual lever transmission arrangement is dispensed with. By reason of the simple and direct action of the 5 solenoids upon the keys of the type-writing machine the device can be applied without the" least alteration toany keyboard typewriting machine, and 'the'writing of a document which has been partly written with the aid of" the device may be continued bythe,

direct actuation of thekeys with the fingers after the removal of such device. I In the accompanying drawings I have represented by way of example a constructional form of 'the invention in diagram.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents dia- I grammatically my device arranged in relation to the keyboard of a type-writing machine, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the pencil or movablemake-andbreak device by which the operator makes and breaks the circuits by which the device is actuated.

Above the keyboard of the type-writer or of the type-printing telegraph apparatus or the like is removably arranged a frame a in any suitable manner. This frame carries rows of solenoids 0, corresponding in number and position to the keys 6 of the type-writer keyboard and having cores (Z, which are suitably guided and bear directly upon said keys when the frame a is in position on the type-writer. The wiring of the solenoids c is connected with a source of electrical energy, and I prefer to make the connection as indicated in Fig. 1, where e is a conducting bar suitably insulated from frame a, with which the wiring from all said solenoids is connected, said bar 6 being connected by a wire f with one pole of the source of electricity g. Wires suitably insulated and which may form a cable It pass from the other end of the wiring of the said several solenoids c to a small handy board 2', adapted to be moved freely. At said board 2' said wires are severally connected with contact-plates carried by said board 2' and arranged and bearing letters and signs similar to the keys I) b of the keyboard of the typewriter. the source of electricity with a make-andbreak pencil Z, so that said pencil can be moved about freely. Said pencil Zcomprises a casing, of non-conducting material, in the front end of which slides a, pin a of electrically-conductive material, said pin a being A wire connects the other pole-of normally pressed outwardly by a spring m. In the rear end of said pencil a pin 0 is screwed, so as to enable said pin 0 to be adjusted. Said pin 0 extends to within a short distance of the pin it, so that when said pin it is caused to touch one of the said contact-plates f it will yield and come in contact with the pin 0 in the interior of the pencil-casing. In this manner the circuit is closed through the solenoid connected with the small contact-plate, which is touched by the pencil, in consequence of which the core of the corresponding solenoid will thus cause the depression of the corresponding type-writer key.

It will be observed that in the described arrangement of the pencil any sparks produced on Working the device will only be formed in the interior of the casing.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with the keys of a type-writer, of a removable frame, solenoids having cores adapted to bear directly upon said keys, of a conducting-bar to which all the solenoids are joined, a source of electricity to one pole of which the said bar is connected, a board adapted to be moved freely to a distance from the type-writer, contact-plates furnished on this board and connected each with one of the said solenoids, and a pencil connected with the second pole of the said source of electricity, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination, with the keyboard of a type- Writer, of a removable frame, solenoids having cores adapted to bear directly upon the keys of such keyboard, a conducting-bar to which all the solenoids are joined, asource of electricity to one pole of which the said bar is connected, a board adapted to be moved freely to a distance from the type-writer, contact-plates on this board and connected each with one of the said solenoids, and a pencil connected'with the second pole of the said source of electricity, said pencil having a pin adjustably secured in the rear end, and a slidingspring-actuated pin in its front end, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a type-writer, of a series of solenoids each adapted to directly severally engage a key of said type-writer, a source of electricity connected with said solenoids, a movable board provided with con: tact plates corresponding to and severally connected with said'solenoids, and amake-andbreak pencil movably' connected with the source of electricity and adapted to close the circuit between any of said contact-plates and said source of electricity, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J ACOB PILSATNEEKS.

Witnesses:

F. PILSENHAUS ER, ARTHUR PULLY. 

